Biohazard treatment systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for exposing fluids and other materials that may contain biohazards to ultraviolet radiation are provided. One system for exposing a fluid includes a baffled conduit for conveying the fluid so that the fluid flow and its exposure to ultraviolet radiation is rendered more uniform. Other systems include feedback for determining when to replace light sources and filters and to ensure proper biodosimetry. Additional methods and systems for exposing fluids and other materials that may contain biohazards are also provided.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 362,393, filed Mar. 8, 2002, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to systems and methods for exposing materials to ultraviolet radiation and more particularly to neutralizing biohazards located on or within the material, which may be a solid, liquid, or gas. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Certain biological microorganisms can have significant negative affects on the health of humans and animals. Such organisms include, for example, common mold spores and pollen, as well as more deadly biological hazards, such as anthrax and small pox. As used herein, the term “biohazard” refers to all types of biological microorganisms that have negative side affects, including potentially deadly microorganisms. [0004] The use of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation for the killing of microorganisms and bio...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Certain biological microorganisms can have significant negative affects on the health of humans and animals.

Conventional methods and systems are often ineffective at inactivating these hazards because they are unable to expose the materials that contain these biohazards to a minimum radiation dose.

Moreover, although microbes are vulnerable to the effects of ultraviolet light at wavelengths at or near 253.7 nm (due to the resonance of this wavelength with various molecular structures, including proteins) within the biohazards, vulnerability can depend on wavelength.

Also, conventional techniques for treating surfaces are often ineffective because the apparatus are insufficiently mobile to direct the radiation as necessary.

Furthermore, conventional methods and systems for treating fluids, such as air, with ultraviolet radiation are often ineffective because the biohazards are distributed non-uniformly within the fluid being treated.

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